AN: The prompt for this chapter is: A story that features a real recent newspaper article.
So what I learned in my updating gap from the last 52 update to this is that I could not find a real story that I could write about. So we're going with an onion article on how to throw a surprise party. The Mikaelsons are ruling NOLA peacefully and Elena and Caroline live there but are single. Elena is human.
"How old is Elijah?" Elena asks Finn.
"A few years younger than me. So-" Finn trails off.
"About 1,038." Rebekah answers.
"You're like fossils." Caroline jokes and Klaus rolls his eyes.
"But we don't look it, love." Klaus replies and Caroline rolls her eyes at him.
"His birthday is in about a month if my memory's correct." Rebekah continues, ignoring Caroline and Nik.
"Does he ever celebrate it?" Elena wonders. Kol looks up from his phone.
"I sense a plan coming, Gilbert." Kol teases and Elena nods.
"I want to throw Elijah a surprise party for his birthday." Elena says and Klaus chokes on his drink.
"Elijah's not keen on surprises. And he doesn't like celebrating his birthday anyway." Rebekah informs Elena.
"But-" Kol begins and Rebekah shakes her head at him.
"What? What is it?" Elena wonders.
"Elijah might do like a party. If you did it." Kol says, and Rebekah is shooting daggers at him with her eyes but they aren't white oak so he ignores it. Elena raises an eyebrow.
"Why me?" She looks around the room, wondering if someone will tell her.
"Well-" Kol begins and Rebekah smacks his arm.
"Elijah's home." Rebekah announces and Elena sits up. She misses the look shared between everyone else in the room as Elijah walks in. Elena smiles at him and the corners of his mouth quirk.
"We should get going." Caroline says and Elena nods. It's getting late. Besides, Elena will see him for breakfast,
"I already ordered. We're predictable." Elena tells Elijah as he arrives. She's always earlier than he is, every time. He always wonders how she does it. He raises an eyebrow.
"Are we?" He wonders and Elena rolls her eyes.
"We've ordered the same things for almost a year. I'd call that predictable." Elena informs him and a smile tugs at his lips as she sips at her coffee. A mellow song plays and Elena's face turns serious.
"I need your help. It's important." Elena says and he learns forward.
"Are you-" Elijah begins and he sounds so concerned she has to stop him.
"Rebekah's birthday is soon. I have no idea what to get her. Or any of your siblings." Elena tells him and a smirk appears on his lips.
"And you know what you'd get me?" He teases and she nods, mischievous look in her eyes.
"I'd tell everyone you wanted to celebrate your birthday in a different city, have them leave and let you have a quiet day." Life has been hectic lately, there have been a few nights she knows he skipped sleep. Elijah pauses, as he considers her hypothetical gift.
"I like it." Elijah says as their breakfast arrives. It's a little manipulative for Elena to suggest, but peace and quiet like that would be perfect. He barely has this uninterrupted time with Elena, let alone much free time. It's been almost a year since Caroline and Elena arrived in New Orleans and it's still just as hectic as the day they arrived.
"Do you think if we just turned the lights off whoever's at the door would leave?" Elena wonders as she stays on his couch, wineglass in hand. Elijah chuckles as he moves to answer the door. It could be nothing but it could be something. Or someone.
"I wish." Elijah says and opens the door.
"I need your help." An unfamiliar voice sounds urgent and Elijah begins talking, quietly. Elena gets her jacket and texts Caroline that she's leaving Elijah's, she should go. It's not late, but it's still night and she should get back to the apartment she shares with Caroline.
"Elena." Elijah hears her walking to him and she's ready to leave.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Elena smiles, she gets it. Elijah opens his mouth and she pecks his cheek and walks away. Elena's heartbeat is fast and nervous, and they both know it.
"I need a drink and a way out of the country in the next hour." Elena announces as she walks into the Mikaelson house. Elijah can't possibly be there before her, it's safe. Kol grins at her with interest.
"Why? Did you kill a world leader or something?" Kol grins and she rolls her eyes.
"Elena wouldn't do that." Klaus appears, an amused grin on his face.
"She daggered Rebekah and Elijah once. She's capable of it. Did you kill someone?" Finn inquires and Elena rolls her eyes at the eldest Mikaelson.
"Where's Bekah?" Elena asks. The blonde appears and Elena lets out a sigh of relief.
"I'm here, why do you want to leave the country?" Rebekah asks and Elena turns red.
"Leave." Rebekah demands, waving her hand at her brothers.
"I kind of might have kissed Elijah on the cheek." Elena whispers as Rebekah pours herself a drink.
"Okay, so?" Rebekah presses.
"And then I left?" Elena makes it sound like a question.
"Why do you look so worried? Elijah is fond of you." Rebekah divulges as she hears the front door open.
"I-you know how I feel about Elijah. I don't want to ruin our friendship." Elena bites her lip.
"Elena, I can guarantee Elijah doesn't mind you kissed his cheek. In fact-Elijah fancies you." Rebekah divulges. She's tired of watching them dance around each other. The two get breakfast together regularly and know each other's coffee preferences for fuck's sake. Rebekah wonders how Elijah and Elena are so blind.
"Rebekah don't be mean." Elena says.
"It's the truth. Elijah likes you. We all know it." Rebekah says.
"Rebekah is telling the truth." Finn calls and Elena's eyes widen.
"I've got to go." Elena says and practically bolts out of the house. Kol walks to Rebekah with a grin on his face.
"How much do you want to bet she's going to Elijah right now?" Kol wonders and Rebekah smirks.
"I'll take that bet." Rebekah replies.
He knocks and waits for a moment. Elena swears from another room, there's sound and her heartbeat quickens.
"Elijah, the door's open." She says, knowing he'll hear. He opens the door as she deals with getting her jacket on and checking her lipstick.
"Hey. How are you doing?" Caroline asks asks Elena hands her a pair of boots.
"Thanks, I was trying to find those." Caroline says to Elena before Elijah speaks.
"I'm good. Klaus is doing well and free today, if you want to see him." Elijah says and Caroline raises an eyebrow.
"I didn't ask about Klaus." Caroline says carefully and Elijah and Elena quietly laugh at that.
"I know." Elijah says and Caroline moves to the couch to put on the boots in her hands.
"Ready?" Elijah directs the question to Elena who looks at him.
"Yeah. Sorry, we were up kind of late last night. Unlike Caroline I actually need sleep." Elena says and Caroline rolls her eyes.
"I'll be with Klaus if you need anything." Caroline begins.
"But you probably won't." Caroline's eyes flicker to Elijah and Elena nods.
"So Bekah and Kol have a bet running and you do live with Elena, Did Elena go to Elijah's after she left here?" Klaus wonders and Caroline shakes her head as she selects a paint brush. Klaus raises an eyebrow.
"I know, if I didn't know I would have bet she did, but I was home when she got back and she told me about all of it." Caroline says as she picks a royal blue paint out and Klaus nods with approval of her choice.
"Did you tell her Elijah loves her? Or confirm what Bekah said?" Klaus wonders and Caroline shakes her head.
"Well, she didn't really ask so I didn't confirm or deny it. And remember when Elena suggested throwing a surprise birthday party for Elijah? She wants me to help her plan it. I'm dooooooomed." Caroline draws the last word out and Klaus laughs at her theatrics. Caroline doesn't bother faking offense.
"Okay, what's today's art lesson?" Caroline wonders, attempting to have a serious expression on her face.
"Balance." Klaus says, and focuses on finding something in particular. Caroline takes the opportunity to stare at him without getting caught, before he shows her a specific brush and begins their art lesson. She wanted to learn and he doesn't mind teaching.
They're still dancing around each other. Almost another month of it, but Elena's managed to plan a surprise party in Elijah's apartment the day of his birthday. Elena will give Caroline her copy of Elijah's apartment key that morning, and Elena will keep him busy. Or at least that's the plan. Two days. Elena's asking about what presents they got Elijah.
"I got him cufflinks he thought he lost about a century ago." Kol tells Elena.
"Alcohol." Klaus answers.
"I haven't decided yet." Finn admits.
"I'll get it for him tomorrow." Rebekah sighs. Elena checks her phone.
"He'll be over here in a few minutes." Elena says. Rebekah sighs.
"Just kiss him already." Rebekah groans. Finn and Kol leave the room at that, they don't want to hear about it.
"You're ridiculous. Elijah doesn't like me that way." Elena says. Klaus notices that Elena doesn't deny how she feels.
"He does. Fancy you, I mean. Trust us." Klaus speaks up and Elena rolls her eyes. It's been awhile since Mystic Falls, and she does trust the Mikaelsons. Mostly.
"Elijah is-" Elena begins.
"Here." Rebekah finishes, and Elena is glad she didn't finish her sentence.
"I heard my name. Good things I hope?"" Elijah appears, and while Elena's spent time around vampires, it's always a little startling when they just appear like that.
"Very good things." Klaus is smirking and Elena shoots him a dirty look.
"We should go." Elena says, and Elijah nods. They're going on a little roadtrip to get a gift for Rebekah and Elena planned their itinerary. There's a bakery she wants to try among other things. Rebekah rolls her eyes at them and Elijah ignores it.
"I want the key back at the end of the night. Don't let Kol or Klaus make a copy of it." Elena says and Caroline laughs.
"Like doors are a deterrent." Caroline reminds her.
"Damn vampires." Elena mutters as there's a knock at the door. Caroline opens it before ELena can move.
"One "damn vampire" here." Elijah's amused and in a good mood. He has to know it's his birthday.
"See you later, Care." Elena says and Caroline winks.
"This is a beautiful song." Elena says, in the quiet restaurant. They have a while before their food arrives.
"Do you want to dance?" Elijah wonders. There are a few people slow dancing already and he's decided tonight is the night. He's going to make a move.
"I'd like that." Elena answers and they're close.
"I don't think we've done this since your mother tried to kill everyone by using my blood." Elena says quietly and Elijah grins.
"You're right." He confirms, the steps are easy, and the song ends. Elena doesn't move away, and the next song is slower. Elena almost puts her head on Elijah's shoulder, but the song ends and their food's arrived.
"We didn't need to have a cake." Klaus says, looking at the perfectly iced letters.
"What else were we supposed to get? Here's blood everyone-oh sorry Elena." Caroline retorts and Klaus hides his grin.
"We could have added alcohol." Kol says.
"Elena says they'll be here in about twenty minutes." Caroline says, looking at her phone.
"Do you mind if I borrow that book?" Elena wonders.
"Not at all. We'll go by my apartment and then I'll get you home." Elijah says and Elena hides her grin. Her plan works, Elijah's following the plan.
"Elena?" Elijah asks. She looks up.
"Sorry-I was just thinking." Elena says, looking at him. Something shifts, they're alone. There's no one else nearby, and he's looking at her with something she's seen before. She blinks, Elena's never bothered figuring out where she's seen it before. Right before kisses she's had in the past. She moves her head, thankful she wore heeled shoes and Elijah closes the distance.
"They're late." Rebekah complains.
"Maybe Elijah and Elena have better things to do." Finn remarks dryly.
"Maybe they finally kissed." Caroline hypothesizes.
"I think that's them. Everyone shut up." Klaus says, and they hide behind furniture because Caroline insisted on it.
The key turns in the lock, and the door is pushed open.
"Happy birthday!" They all shout and Elijah has a rare look on his face. He's confused.
"It's my birthday?" Elijah asks and Elena laughs.
"I can't believe you forgot your birthday." Rebekah tells him.
"It's been a few centuries since I last celebrated it, and we weren't born in an age that kept track of months." Elijah retorts and Elena shuts the door.
His family's going to drive him crazy so she'll make it up to him later.
"Whose idea was this?" Elijah wonders as Caroline cuts the cake.
"Elena's." Klaus says and Elena rolls her eyes at him.
"You're all ridiculous." Elijah says after he unwraps his presents.
"Says you. You two are ridiculous." Rebekah mutters, looking at Elijah and Elena.
"Why were you two late anyway?" Kol wonders. Elena's blush tells them all they need to know.
"About bloody time." Rebekah says.